Combination fluid coupling and friction clutch



Nov- 16, 1948. s. R. PENNINGTON 2,453,811

COIIBIIATION FLUID COUPLING AND FRICTION CLUTCH Filed March 1'7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3, d u i INVENTOR. 60rd? 7i? Ezrru'rqgfim Nov. 16, 1948. s. RQPENNINGTON 2,453,811

COIBIIA'ION FLUID COUPLING AND FRICTION CLUTCH Filed latch 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 411( 7K rtnnllrlgzdfl.

Patented Nov. .16, 1948 I. H I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION FLUID COUPLING AND FRICTION CLUTCH Gordon R. Pennington, Bloomfield Hills, Micin, assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 17, 1944, Serial No. 526,908 16 Claims. (Cl. 192-32) This invention relates to the association of a forming part of the magnetic clutch employed clutch with a fluid coupling. More specifically in the present invention; and it relates to the association of a magnetic clutch Fig. 6 is a view partially in section showing a with a fluid coupling in such a manner that the modified association of a fluid coupling and a coupling and clutch are carried within the same magnetic clutch. housing. The term "fluid coupling as used A unitary structural assembly I! includes 9. herein is intended to cover any means by which closure member IS, a fitting l4, a casing l5 power is transmitted through fluid, such means formed of casting parts It and ii, a ring l'l, being a fluid coupling in the common accepted and an end member IS. The closure member sense, a torque converter, or any like device. I! may be press-fitted within the fitting l4 The invention also relates to improvement in which carries bolts 20 by means of which the current-conducting parts, which may incidenstructure assembly I! is connected to an engine tally be applied to a magnetic clutch. ran h f n ShoWn- The casing P t 5 is Lemon application Serial No. 526,858, filed suitably secured to the fitting l4 as by soldering March 1 ,1944, now Patent No. 2,415,894, Februor welding and the casing part I6 is in turn ary 18, 1947, discloses and claims a certain arconnected to the casing part It by a ring 2| and rangement of a fluid coupling and a magnetic by Soldering r welding indicated at T e clutch. That arrangement is claimed broadly r is Connected to t e ca i p rt W by and specifically in the Lemon application. The Soldering Welding and the end member present application discloses two arrangements is Secured the ring y ts 3- o o ed of fluid coupling and magnetic clutch differing within the casing is a runner tu e 26 somewhat from that of the Lemon application Secured a hub member keyed e end of and has claims to these two forms. The present a shaft The other end o t e shaft 8 e application also claims a certain arrangement f tends into a transmission case, not shown. The current-conducting parts disclosed both in the hub and the Said one end of the Shaft Lemon application and in the present applicaare loulnaned n the fitting H y means of a tion. ball bearing 29. An impeller structure 30 is An object of the present invention is to pro- Secured by a bolt and nut 31 to a flange vide an improved arrangement; of a fl id 33 of a sleeve 34. The inner portion of one end pling and a clut h, M fi l t i 30 of the sleeve 34 is journalled by roller bearings rangement involves a magnetic clut h, 35 on the shaft 28, and the other end of sleeve Another obj ct is t provide improvements in 34 is journalled at the outside by a ball bearing the sealing of a it involving a fluid coupling 35 in a flange 36 of the end member 18. A seal and a clutch. 31, acting between the casing l5 and a flange A still further object is to provide improve- 35 38 on the shaft COmPYiseS flanged ring 39, ments in the arrangement of current conducta bellows a Spring and rings 42 and ing parts In a magnetic clutch as employed in It will be observed that the spacing between th present invention, there may be misaligm the bearing 35 and 35' is relatively great and so ments of parts upon assembly and wear between pmvides stability the sleeve stationary d t t parts, and the arrange A magnetic clutch 44 includes a set of alternate ment contemplated f supplying current to (11505 45 keyed to the ring l1 and a set of alterthese parts permits some shifting of these parts gz gig g s igg g zi g fig 0 ve while insuring that electncal connections are notches cut in its external periphery for maintained.

be a

a r u rality of radial slits extend outwardly from 15 a V Pa Y Section the inside of the disc 45 and terminate in enlng t'he novel associatiOn of clutch and fluid larged openings L Fig 5 shows each clutch o pl n o epresent invention; 50 disc 46 to have a plurality of notches -52 in its 2 S a S o a e ta o the hue inner side by which it is keyed to the tubular 2-2 of Fig. 1; I member 34. Each disc 46 also has radial slots Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 53 extending outwardly from the inner periphery 3-3 of Fig. 2; and radial slots 54 extending inwardly from the Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing plates 5 outer periphery and terminating in enlarged openings 55. Magnetic clutch 44 also includes supporting member 62 or to movement of the an armature 56, a magnet 51, and a coil 58. entire assembly caused by vibration. Moreover, Current is conducted to the coil 58 by a wire -9 the shape and dimensions or the conducting strip connected to one of nuts 60', in turn connected 61 and the curved surfaces on nut 12 and conto bolts 6|, in turn connected to a supporting 5 nector allows compensation for any lateral member 62. Mounted upon the supporting memmisalignment upon assembly between the ring 64 ber 62 is a ring 63 which may be of graphite and the connector 10.

material. A metallic ring 64 rests against the In the modified form of Fig. 6 a sleeve 18 imring 63. A spring ring 65 held in place by a remediately surrounds a driven shaft 28 as does the taining ring 66 and acting directly against the 10 sleeve 34 of the form of Fig. 1, and the right end, ring 64, presses the ring 63 into contact with the not shown, of the sleeve 18 is journalled by a supporting member 62. The ring 64 is conbearing in the end part of the casing secured to nected to a conducting strip 61, which has a the casing as the'sleeve 34 is Journalled by bearcurved perforated end 68, secured to a concave ing 35 in end member I8 secured to the casing surface 69 in an end of an electrical connector I5. However, the sleeve 18 is longer, and i s left 10 by a bolt 1| and a nut 12 having a convex end end s expanded and Journalled on a cylindric l The electrical connector 10 is mounted in portion 19 of the hub 21 by roller bearin s 8 an insulating member 14 in a portion 15 of the An advantage is that there is a greater length beclutch housing. An electrical lead 16 is attached tween the bearing-supported ends of the sleeve to the connector 10 by a nut 11 threaded on the 20 18, and so there is less tilting of the sleeve due to connector 10. The drawin shows the ring 83 inequalities and misalignments. Another adand the supportin member 62 to contact over antage is that upon withdrawal of the shaft 28 both a cylindrical area and an annular radial during disassembly the left end of the sleeve 18 area. The radial area is the real current-transis not le upporte mitting area, for wear of the ring 63 will not the intention to limit the invention only interfere with contact at this region. w t n h scope f the app nded cla ms.

During operation supplying of current to the I claim: magnetic clutch 44 causes the armature 56 to be In combination, a rotating member, a

attracted toward the magnet 51 so that the clutch tionary embe held in Contact with the rotatplates 45 are in driving engagement with th 30 ing member for transmission of electrical current clutch plates 46. Thus rotation of the casing l5 between the members, a conductor connected at produced by rotation of the crankshaft acting one end to t stationary m r and havin its through the bolts 20 is transmitted through the other end Curved, & fi d ce uct g Part having engaged magnetic clutch 44 to the tubular mema Curved Surface, d means Including a Securing ber 34 and the impeller structure 30. Rotation of :lthe impeller structure all acts through the fluid the conductor to the fixed c ucti art by cont in d i th casing |5 t ot t t runner holding the curved end of the conductor between structure 26 which acts through the hub member the curved Surface of the fixed Conducting part 21 to rotate the shaft 28 extending into the transand the curved surface of the securing element,

mission casing. When drive is to be interrupted, 40 the curved surfaces and curv d n Permitting t a etic c utch 44 is disengaged by inte ru the necessary shifting of the conductor to accomtlon of the electric current flowing to the clutch. modate axial movement of the Stationary When this takes place the armature 56 is no longer attracted to the magnet 51 and the clutch In m in t n, a rotating member, a staplates 45 slip with respect to the clutch plates 1'' tionaly member d in Co tact with the retail 46 When the clutch i th d sengaged t ing member for transmission of electrical current ing l5 housing the impeller and runner structures between the members, a co du ting strip Con-- 30 and 26 rotates but these structures do not ronected at one end to the Stationary member and thecasing l5 may reach the clutch plates 45 and 50 P i g a curved ce. and means l much simplified for only the single seal 31 is re- 0f th fix d on tin p rt nd the c rved urquired since the clutch is housed within the parts face of the securing element, the curved surfaces to which the fluid of the fluid coupling has acand curved end permitting the necessary shifting ce'ss. oi the conducting strip to accommodate axial As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the conducting strip movement of t at ry m the 61 is wide enough to resist rotation of ring 64 and 0 ducting strip havin 8- fii y great Width and thin enough to flex and so to permit axial movea relatively small thickness, the width and thickment of the ring 63. Furthermore, the secureness being so disposed with respect to the stament of the conducting strip 61 to the electrical t n y m m r as o a e e r l iv ly r at the convex end 13 on nut 12, and the concave sur- 65 her and the relatively small thickness to permit angle of the conducting stri 61 to accommodate con modate axial mov m nt o the s ati na y axial movement'of the ring 64 toward the supmem e l porting member 62. Fig. 3 shows the opening 3. In combination, a magnetic clutch comprisin the curved end 68 of the conducting strip 61 70 mg sets of plates and magnetic parts attractable to be somewhat larger than the diameter of the to one another under-the action of electric current bolt 1| so that the curved end 68 can be shifted to press between them the plates for causing drivwith respect to the nut 12 and the electrical ing engagement between the plates, a rotating conductor 10. Axial movement of the ring 64 member associated with the magnetic clutch to may be due to wear between the ring 63 and the supply electric current thereto, a stationary member held in contact with the rotating member for transmission of electrical. current between the members, a conductor connected at one end to the stationary member and having its other end curved, a fixed conducting part having a curved surface, and means including a securing element having a curved surface for connecting the conductor to the fixed conducting part by holding the curved end of the conductor between the curved surface of the fixed conducting part and the curved surface of the securing element, the curved surfaces and curved end permitting the necessary shifting of the conductor to accommodate axial movement of the stationary member.

4. In combination, a magnetic clutch comprising sets of plates and magnetic parts attractable to one another under the action of electric current to press between them the plates for causing driving engagement between the plates, a rotating member associated with the magnetic clutch to supply electric current thereto, a sta-' tionary member held in contact with the rotating member for transmission of electrical current between the members, a conducting strip connected at one end to the stationary member and having its other end curved, a fixed conducting part having a curved surface, and means including a securing element having a curved surface for connecting the conducting strip to the fixed conducting part by holding the curved end of the conducting strip between the curved surface of the fixed conducting part and the curved surface of the securing element. the curved surfaces and curved end permitting the necessary shifting of the conducting strip to accommodate axial movement of the stationary member, the conducting strip having a relatively great width and a relatively small thickness, the width and thickness being so disposed with respect to the stationary member; as to cause the relatively great width to resist rdtation of the stationary member and the relatively small thickness to permit flexing of the conducting strip necessary to accommodate axial movement of the stationary member.

5. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure, a sleeve directly surrounding the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, and a clutch positioned within the casing and acting and the sleeve.

6. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection withthe runner structure, a sleeve within the casing directly surrounding the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, a clutch positioned within the casing and acting between the casing and the sleeve, and a seal acting between the casing and the shaft.

'7. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure and having a shoulder outside an end of the casing, a sleeve within the housing directly surrounding the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, a clutch positioned within the casing and acting between the casing and the sleeve, and a seal abutting the shoulder on the shaft and between the casing -of plates being connected to the housing,

the said end of the casing so as to act between the shaft and the casing.

8. A power-transmitting dev ce comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure, a sleeve journalled within the housing on the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, a clutch positioned within the casing and comprising two interengaged sets of plates, one set of plates being connected to the housing, and the other set to the sleeve, and a seal acting between the casing and the shaft.

9. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure and having a shoulder outside an end of the casing, a sleeve journalled-within the housing on the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, a clutch positioned within the casing and comprising two interengaged sets of plates, one set and the other set to the sleeve, and a seal abutting the shoulder on the shaft and the said one end of the casing so as to act between the shaft and the casing.

10. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure, a sleeve journalled within the housing on the shaft and secured to the impeller structure, a magnetic clutch comprising interengaged sets of plates, one set of plates being connected to the casing, and the other set to the sleeve and parts at opposite sides of the plates attractable toward one an-' other for pressing the sets of plates into driving engagement, and a seal acting between the easing and the shaft.

11. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the runner structure and having a shoulder outside an end of the casing, a sleeve positioned within the housing aboutthe shaft and secured to the impeller structure, bearing means within one end of the sleeve for journalling the said one end of the sleeve on the shaft, bearing means around the other end of the sleeve for journalling the'said other end of the sleeve in the casing, a magnetic clutch comprising interengaged sets of plates, one set of plates being connected to the housing, and the other set to the sleeve and parts at opposite sides of the plates attractable toward one another for pressing the sets of plates into driving engagement, and a seal abutting the shoulder on the shaft and the said end of the casing so as to act between the shaft and the casing.

12. A power-transmitting device comprisinga casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a hub member secured to the runner structure and forming a mounting therefor, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the hub member, a sleeve secured to the impeller structure and forming a mounting therefor, means journalling the sleeve on the hub member, and a clutch positioned within the casing and acting between the casing and the sleeve.

- 7 13. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a hub member secured to the runner structure and forming a mounting therefor, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the hub member, a sleeve secured to the impeller structure and forming a mounting therefor, means journalling one end of the sleeve on the hub member, means journalling the other end of the sleeve on the casing, a clutch positioned within the casingand acting between the casing and the sleeve, and a seal acting between the casing and the shaft.

14. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a hub member secured to the runner structure and providing a mounting therefor, a driven shaft extending into the casing through the impeller structure into driving connection with the hub member and having a shoulsleeve and parts at opposite sides of the plates attractable toward one another for pressing the sets of plates into driving engagements, and a seal abutting the shoulder on the shaft and the said end of the casing so as to act between the shaft and the casing.

15. A power-transmitting device comprising a casing, impeller and runner structures positioned within the casing, a driven shaft extending into sides of the plates attractable toward one another for pressing the sets of plates into driving engagement, a rotating member associated with the magnetic clutch to supply electric current thereto, a stationary member held in contact with the rotating member for transmission of electrical current between the members, a conducting strip having a relatively great width and a relatively object, means connecting one end of the conducting strip to the fixed object, and means connecting the other end of the conducting strip to the stationary member, the strip being so arranged as to resist by virtue of its relatively great width rotation of the stationary member and to permit by virtue of its relatively small thickness flexing of the strip to accommodate axial movement of the stationary member.

A power-transmitting device plates, one set of plates being connected to the housing, the other set to the sleeve and parts at opposite sides of the plates attractable toward one an-- other for pressing the sets of plates into drivhig GORDON R. PEN'NINGTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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